Arc’teryx Equipment, the global design company specializing in technical high-performance apparel and equipment, today announced the launch of Groundwork, its inaugural city-to-trail running program. Designed to introduce urban runners to nearby trails through structured training and local leadership programming, the eight-week progressive training series will launch simultaneously across four major North American hubs: New York City, Los Angeles, Portland (Oregon), and Montréal. Registration opens globally for 600 participants total (150 per city) on June 3, 2026, with a program entry fee of $115 CAD.
Coinciding with the rollout of the Sylan 2 – Arc’teryx’s latest mountain running footwear product line – all registered participants will be equipped with a complete technical running setup, including the all-new Norvan LD 4 trail shoes and specialized apparel.
Groundwork represents a strategic extension of the brand’s ongoing commitment to community. Pairing expert-backed training structures with local running leadership, the program is built to empower urban athletes with the technical skills, trail safety knowledge, and terrain confidence required to transition safely from city pavement to mountain singletrack.
Across all four cities, participants will follow a comprehensive, multi-phase training protocol spanning baseline foundation, strength development, and peak endurance, delivered digitally via TrainingPeaks and supported by weekly educational coaching directives. Each city also has a Strava Club where participants share routes, track progress, and stay connected throughout the program, along with optional weekly community runs hosted by City Run Leads and local partners that align with the weekly training progression.
Each regional program will feature world-class energy and community integration, and is custom-tailored to its local surrounding wilderness:
- Los Angeles: Led by Hilary Yang, pushes through the technical tracks of the Angeles National Forest in partnership with Tommy’s Gift Shop as a community clubhouse.
- Portland: Led by Mack Robertson, moves through the steep, lush trails of the Tillamook State Forest out of the brand’s 23rd Street community hub.
- Montréal: Led by Nik Golymbiowsky, taking on wet, rocky alpine paths in Mont-Tremblant in collaboration with local community partners.
- New York City: Led by Ashley Macha, challenging participants on the rocky, root-heavy, and exposed tracks of the Shawangunk Mountains.
“Groundwork is built on the belief that we shouldn’t just inspire runners; we must educate them to move responsibly in the mountains,” said Molly O’Connor, Arc’teryx’s Groundwork Campaign Manager. “As trail running experiences an unprecedented cultural explosion, urban communities are searching for nearby wild spaces but often lack the confidence to navigate technical backcountry safely. Groundwork changes that by providing an accessible, highly structured blueprint that safely scales an athlete’s physical capability and terrain awareness.”
To ensure pinnacle safety and authenticity, the foundational framework of the program was custom-built by Brenton Reagan, Lead Guide and Director of Marketing for Exum Mountain Guides. The curriculum features optional weekly community run meetups led by the regional leads, kicking off in June and culminating on August 8, 2026, with an immersive trail finale event where participants leave the city behind for a full day of guided trail exploration, stewardship, and celebration. Runners can explore the regional curriculums, check gear specifications, and join their city’s specific registration pipeline by visiting the live landing pages:
- Main Program Portal: events.arcteryx.com/groundwork
- Training & Curriculum: events.arcteryx.com/groundwork-training
- Product & Gear Integration: events.arcteryx.com/groundwork-gear
Arc’teryx is a Canadian company based in the Coast Mountains. Our design process is connected to the real world, focused on delivering unrivaled durability and performance in extreme conditions. Our products are distributed through over 160 branded stores and more than 2,400 retail locations worldwide. We are problem solvers, evolving and searching for a better way to deliver resolved, minimalist designs. Good design that matters makes lives better.
